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personally, i don't really get involved with albums i consider to be "my favourites" very often

do you just have them set in your mind as being your favourites, perhaps afraid to listen to them in case you taint their memory? Maybe the last experience of listening to it was so incredible that you fear it can never match up?

Or have you just listened to them so many times that the spark is gone a bit, and you maybe just want to save the relighting for a "special occasion"?

Of course, all the uses of the word "you" in this are self directed. I bet everyone here listens to their favourite albums morning, noon and night. Or do you?

Incidentally, have you ever listened to an album you considered one of your favourites, but it really didn't live up to prior expectations? Made you rethink your entire life maybe?

I don't think about it or anything like that. Fun House gets a huge amount of ear time to and from work. I listened to Sorry in Pig Minor by the Cows for the first time in ages this week and I still thought 'this is one of my favourite albums'. It was just as exciting to listen to for the millionth time as it was the first time, probably because it's one of my favourite albums. Duhhh

In 1997 my favourite album was "So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes" by NOFX. Listening to it these days I can still see why it was my favourite then. It's fast and has mean guitar bits in it and I reckon that was all I was looking for then.

Planning to listen to your favourite albums however many times a week seems a bit crazy. No reason to force it.

when i listened to what i consider to be my favourite jazz album for the first time in aaaaages (Charles Mingus - The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady). It was incredibily good of course, but i was a little worried as i was putting it on that it wouldn't live up to expectations

Its similiar with Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. I rarely listen to it nowadays, but have it set in my mind as being one of my favourites ever. And though when i listen to it i'm completely blown away, shouldn't i want to listen to it all the time? Or will it not last forever (even though its lasted this long)

My main point is this: if i truly love an album, why don't i wan't to listen to it all the time?

affirmed itself as one of my favourites I do approach its future plays with a little trepidation.

Mood, environment and company are all clearly important in the decision process of selecting a record.

Most of the time I like to be alone, with a relaxed/totally open mind in the early evening with a 4 pack and then I might reach for one of 10 or so albums that I seldom play due to the sheer emotional impact they can have on me.

Yeah - I think I agree with your observation smezzer - an album cherished should be treated with a degree of respect and played sparingly to maintain its importance in ones life.

I honestly believe if it's your favourite album it should rise above mood/environment/etc and totally rule whenever you want to listen to it. By 'want' I mean play it when you feel like it, as opposed to playing it once a week just because 'it's your favourite album'.

If it requires maintenance I reckon it probably isn't actually your favourite.

is an album you fall in love with completely and utterly, to the point where it affects your music taste a lot or a little.

My 5 favourite records have all had a profound effect on my music taste and what I have bought/sold on/listened to subsequently. I started listening to Panopticon by Isis again the other day, and I remembered why I love it so much. Because it made me change my taste in music slightly, and because it overwhelms me and carries me to somewhere else. All my favourite albums do that. But it doesn't mean I listen to them all the time: I'd count siamese dream as a favourite, but I rarely play it more than once a week, if that.